Baseball Roundtable May Wrap UP … Stats/Stories from May … A No-hitter, A “Maddux,” An Unassisted DP by an Outfielder and More.

It’s June 1, and that means it’s time for Baseball Roundtable’s May Wrap up – a look at the stats and stories that caught The Roundtable’s attention over the past month , as well as The Roundtable’s Players and Pitchers of the Month, Trot Index and more.  Just a few of this month’s highlights that you will find in this post:

• A four-strikeout inning;
• Three bases-loaded hit-by-pitches in a single game;
• A ten-run twelfth inning and a 13-run third inning;
• A “Maddux”;
• A three-pitcher no-hitter;
• An unassisted double play by a left fielder;
• A five-run inning in which the baseball never got out of the infield; and
• More.

Read on… and on … and on for all the stats and stories. Let’s start with a look at Baseball Roundtable’s Players and Pitchers of the Month

BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE MAY 2026 PLAYERS/PITCHERS OF THE MONTH

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Player of The Month … Nationals SS CJ Abrams

A tough one here, as no one really  jumped out as the dominant force. Miami SS Otto Lopez led MLB with 37 May hits; Philadelphia DH Kyle Schwarber led MLB with 11 May home runs; LA CF Andy Pages and Reds’ LF JJ Bleday tied for the NL lead with 25 RBI; Nationals’ RF James Wood led MLB with 21 May runs scored; and San Francisco 2B Luis Arreaz led NL batters with at least 25 May at bats with a .340 average for the month.

After much deliberation, I went with Mets’ LF Juan Soto, who (while he did not lead in any of these categories) had the best all-around numbers. Soto went .281-10-21, with 20 runs scored and five steals in May.  His 21 RBI tied for fifth in the NL, his ten long balls were second, his 20 runs scored tied for third and his five steals tied for eleventh. He was one of just three NL players to both score and drive in at least 20 runs in May (the other two were CJ Abrams and Andy Pages).

Honorable Mentions: Miami SS Otto Lopez at .330-1-12 for May. with an MLB-leading 37 May hits; Reds’ LF JJ Bleday tied for the NL lead in RBI (25), with a .301-8-25 line; Phillies’ DH Kyle Schwarber with an MLB-leading 11 May homers (a .243-11-19 stat line …. but I couldn’t get my “old school” mind past his 46 strikeouts versus nine walks); Dodgers’ CF Andy Pages at .266-8-25, with 20 runs scored; Nationals’ SS CJ Abrams at .292-4-21, with 20 runs scored; and Giants’ 2B Luis Arreaz, who hit .340-2-12, with 34 hits and 18 runs scored – and struck out only three times (versus  eight walks).

 

Pitcher of the Month

Tie : Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Mets & Cristopher Sanchez, LHP, Phillies

The Roundtable has often admitted to being distracted by “bright and shiny things” on the ballfield.  Well, in May, two NL pitchers not only amassed some impressive stats, but also delivered something “bright and shiny.” The Phillies’ Cristopher Sanchez went the entire month (five starts) without surrendering a single run, while the Brewers Jacob Misiorowski not only led MLB in strikeouts, but had a game in which he threw a record (since pitch tracking began in 2008)  57 pitches at 100 MPH+.  Both deserve this recognition.

Cristopher Sanchez

Sanchez’ month of May saw him pitch 39 innings in five starts (averaging 7.8 frames per start) and included a six-hit, complete-game, shutout of the Pirates (six hits, no walks, 13 strikeouts) on May 16.  His final line for the month was 4-0, 0.00.  Yep, he didn’t allow a single runner to reach the plate in five starts.

Sanchez completed at least seven innings in every outing and, as noted earlier, did not surrender a single run. He was second in the NL in strikeouts with 45 (while walking just three batters); second in MLB (among players with at least 25 May  innings pitched) in WHIP (0.72); and  held hitters to a .181 average.  He ended May with an active 44 2/3 consecutive scoreless inning streak (the bright and shiny thing).

Jacob Misiorowski (The Miz)

Let’s lead off with the bright and shiny thing here. Misiorowski continued to bring the heat in historic fashion. On May 25,  he threw a record 57 pitches of 100 MPH+, reaching 102+ MPH on 22 pitches and 103+ on nine. He threw a total of 96 pitches in that outing, which meant 59.3 percent were in triple digits. In the contest, a 5-1 Brewers win over the Cubs, he gave up just two hits and one run, walking one and fanning 12.

For the month, The Miz was 5-0, with a stringy 0.23 earned run average (second only to Sanchez, above). He gave up just one run 38 1/3 innings.  He fanned an MLB-highest 57 batters, walking just six.  His WHIP of 0.52 and batting average against of .109 were the best among MLB pitchers with at least 25 May innings.

Honorable Mentions: The Dodgers’  Shohei Ohtani went 3-1, 1.08 in four May starts, fanning 27 in 25 innings (and leading off a pair of games with home runs as a DH and starting pitcher); The Reds’ Chris Burns was also in the mix at 4-0, 1.19 for May, with 33 strikeouts (versus just eight walks) in 30 1/3 innings and a 0.79 WHIP.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Player of the Month … Nick Kurtz, 1B Athletics

A much easier decision than in the NL here. Kurtz led MLB in May RBI with 26, while hitting .333, with five home runs. In addition, he was the only AL player to record at least 20 runs scored (21) and 20 RBI in the month. His .333 average was the fourth highest among American Leaguers with at least 75 May at bats and his 34 May hits were tied for the league lead. He also tied for the AL lead in May runs scored.  His .456 on-base percentage was second in the AL to Jonathan Aranda (.464) among hitters with at least 75 May at bats and his .556 slugging percentage was sixth among that group. Kurtz got on base in 27 of his 28 May games (included was a portion of a 48-game, on-base streak that ran from April 1 through May 25). He was, in short, an on-base machine.

Honorable Mentions: Rays’ 1B Joseph Aranda hit .374 for the month, MLB’s highest average  MLB among players with at least 75 May at bats. His 34 hits tied for the AL May lead and he hit four homers, drove in 18 runs and scored 17. Yankees’ LF Cody Bellinger went .304-5-23, with 19 runs scored – and walked more times (20) than he struck out (15).

Pitcher of the Month … Cade Smith, RHP, Guardians

Guardians’ closer Cade Smith appeared in 13 games in May and saved 13 (the next best saves total for the month was nine). He put up a 1.32 ERA, 0.73 WHIP and held hitters to a .188 average. Further, he fanned 25 batters in 13 2/3 innings, while walking just one.

Honorable Mentions: Some new names here. The Astros’ Spencer Arrighetti was tough when he had to be. Despite giving up 17 walks and 16 hits in 29 innings, he went 4-1 in five starts, with a stingy 0.93 ERA (lowest in the AL among pitchers with 25 or more innings pitched). Davis Martin of the White Sox went 4-0, 2.05 in five starts and fanned 38 batters in 30 2/3 innings, while walking just six.  His 38 strikeouts were fifth in the AL. The White Sox’ Anthony Kay went 4-0, 2.05 in six starts and Red Sox’ veteran Sonny Gray went 4-0, 2.00 for a team that went 13-14.

 

 

SURPRISE PLAYER OF THE MONTH

Tie: Astros’ RHP Spencer Arrighetti and Guardians’ 2B Travis Bazzana

This month’s Surprise Players are two who have shown potential, but delivered on their potential to a surprising degree in May.  (Side note: I still kind of wish Bazzana was in the lineup for the Savannah Bananas.)

Spencer Arrighetti

Arrighetti was a sixth-round draft pick in 2021 (out of the University of Louisiana).  In three college seasons (TCU, Navarro College and the University of Louisiana),  he went 11-8, 4.14. In the minors from 1921-24, Arrighetti went 19-15, 4.36. An early 2024 call up to the Astros produced a 7-13, 4.53 major league stat line (29 games, 28 starts, 171 strikeouts in 145 innings). A thumb injury shortened his 2025 season (he pitched in three minor-league games and seven with the Astros, going 1-5, 5.35 for Houston). So, coming into 2026, his MLB record was 8-18, 4.69 in 36 games/35 starts.

But there had been flashes of potential.  In May of 2024, he pitched six one-run innings in a 1-0 loss to the Rays, fanning a career-high 12 in the process.  He came black six days later to fan 13 in seven innings (two runs) in a 5-4 win over the Red Sox. In fact, he reached double- digit in strikeouts four times that season.

Arrighetti started 2026 in the minors, but injuries to the Houston rotation led to his call up on April 15. And it’s been lights out since. In April, he went 3-0, 2.00 in three starts and, in May, he surprised with a 4-1, 0.93 record. Wow.

Travis Bazzana, 2B Guardians

The rookie, who made his MLB debut on April 28, was fifth in the AL in  May base hits (32), while putting up a .311-3-11 line, with 13 runs scored and eight steals.  Not a total surprise, of course, he was a first-round, first-overall  draft choice in 2024 –  out of Oregon State University (where he hit .360-45-165, with 66 steals in three seasons … 184 games). Still, in three minor-league seasons, he hit .252-14-61, with 25 steals in 135 games.  When he was called up this season (he made his MLB debut April 28), he was hitting .287-2-10, with eight steals at Triple-A. After  13 MLB games (as of May 12), he was hitting just .195. Then, from May 13 to the end of the month, he stroked at a .353-2-5 pace. Looks like he made the adjustment.

Honorable Mention: Marlins SS Otto Lopez hit .260 over his first three MLB seasons (268 games in 2021-22 & 2024-25). However, he has turned it on in 2026. He hit .322-3-12 with five steals in March/April and a surprising .330-1-12 in May – leading MLB in May base hits.  (Side note: He did hit an even .300 over eight minor-league seasons, so maybe this isn’t that much of a surprise.

 

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THE TROT INDEX … A REGULAR BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE FEATURE

Through May  31,  35.3% of the MLB season’s plate appearances ended in a trot (back to the dugout, around the bases, to first base). We’re talking about strikeouts, home runs, walks, hit by pitch and catcher’s interference – all outcomes that are, basically, devoid of action on the base paths or in the field. Here’s the breakout: strikeouts (22.0%); walks (9.2%); home runs (2.8%); HBP (1.2%); catcher’s interference (less than 1%). 

The 35.0% is up a bit from  the 34.5% through May in 2025. I’ve also looked into full-year Trot Index figures for the years I have been a fan: 34.9% in 2024; 30.3% in 2010; 29.9% in 2000; 31.7% in 1990; 23.1% in 1980; 27.0% in 1970; 25.1% in 1960; and 22.8% in 1950.

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The biggest surprise in those numbers may be the surging White Sox, who finished second in the NL in runs scored and tied for first in May home runs; while finishing in the middle of the pack in ERA and runs all0wed (eighth and seventh, respectively).  They were led on offense by 1B Munetaka Murakami (.244-8-18 for the month); SS Colson Montgomery (.235-7-15); and 3B MIguel Vargas (.250-7-19). Their pitching got a boost from Anthony Kay (4-0, 1.95) and Davis Martin (4-0, 2.05). Coming into the season, the pair had a combined MLB record of 14-23.  This year, they have  combined for 13 wins against just two losses.

On the other end of the spectrum, the Rockies continue  to struggle, with  a May ERA of 6.77 and an offense that was eleventh in the NL in May runs.

——-Team Statistical Leaders for May  2026 ———-

RUNS SCORED

National League – Nationals (149); Pirates (148); Dodgers (147)

American League – Yankees (152); White Sox (146); Orioles (130)

The fewest runs in May were scored by the Tigers (81). In the National League, it was the Padres (88).  The only other teams scoring fewer than 100 May runs were the Cardinals (92) and Royals (95).   

AVERAGE

National League – Pirates (.264); Giants (.260); Dodgers (.252)

American League – Rays (.270); Red Sox (.265); Yankees (.258)

The lowest team average for May belonged to the Padres at .200 – the Tigers were at the bottom of the AL at .204.

HOME RUNS

National League – Braves (41); Nationals (40); Phillies (39)

American League – White Sox (42); Mariners (42); Astros (39)

The fewest home runs in May were hit by the Brewers, Diamondbacks and Tigers (18).

TOTAL BASES

National League – Giants (440); Nationals (431); Pirates (407)

American League – Yankees (421); White Sox (401); Mariners (387)

The Nationals led MLB in May Slugging Percentage at .453.  The Yankees led the AL (.449)

DOUBLES

National League – Giants (68);  Nationals (61); D-backs (53)

American League – Twins (55); Yankees (53); Royals (50)

TRIPLES

National League – D-backs (7); Giants (7); Nationals (6)

American League – Rays (6); Red Sox (6); Yankees (6)

The White Sox were the only team with zero triples in May.

STOLEN BASES

National League – Marlins (32); Phillies (26); Padres (26); Nationals (25)

American League – Guardians (32); Yankees (23); Mariners (21); Red Sox (21)

The Giants stole the fewest sacks in May with seven – in just nine attempts.

Six of the top seven teams in May steals were in the NL.

WALKS DRAWN

National League – Cubs (125);  Dodgers (116); Pirates (113)

American League – Guardians (123); Yankees (122); Athletics (110)

The Rays led MLB in May on-base percentage at .348. The Pirates led the NL at .346. The Padres had MLB’s lowest May OBP at (.276).  The Astros anchored the AL at .287.

BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS

National League – Reds (253); Pirates (249); Cubs (234)

American League – Angels (255); Tigers (253); Orioles (252); Twins (252)

Rays’ batters fanned the fewest times in May (182). The Cardinals fanned the fewest times in the NL at 190.

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EARNED RUN AVERAGE

National League – Brewers (2.52); Dodgers (2.95); D-backs (2.98)

American League – Mariners (3.23) Red Sox (3.24); Yankees (3.31)

The Rockies had the highest May ERA at 6.77.  The Orioles had the highest ERA in the AL at 5.10. The only other team at five-plus was the Reds at 5.51.

STRIKEOUTS

National League – Mets (262) ; Brewers (261); Phillies (260)

American League – Guardians (270); Mariners (252); Red Sox (248)

The Brewers averaged an MLB-best 10.13 strikeouts per nine innings in May. The Guardians averaged an AL-best 9.35.  Eight teams averaged nine whiffs per nine or better.

FEWEST WALKS SURRENDERED

National League –   Phillies (61); Dodgers (66); D-backs (66)

American League – Rays (68); Mariners (75); Red Sox (77)

The Phillies walked an MLB-lowest 2.19 batters per nine innings in May.  The Angels walked an MLB-worst 4.81 batters per nine frames.

SAVES

National League – Nationals (12); Phillies (12): Brewers (10)

American League – Guardians (14); Rays (13); Twins (10)

The Tigers  blew the most saves in May – eleven (in 13 opportunities).

Walks+ Hits/Innings Pitched (WHIP)

National League – Dodgers (1.02); Brewers (1.06); D-backs (1.10)

American League:  Mariners (1.13); White Sox (1.16); Red Sox (1.20)

Bonus Stats:

• The Reds gave up an MLB-high 51 home runs in May. The Brewers gave up an MLB-low 12 home runs.
• Brewers’ pitchers held opponents to an MLB-low .195 average in May. The Rockies’ staff was touched for an MLB-high .311 averag

——MAY 2026 HIGHLIGHTS —- 

 

May 2 Saw The End of Two Impressive Streaks (All Good Things Must Come To An End)

Always Wanted To Be A Hit Man

On May 2, the Diamondbacks’ Ildemaro Vargas was held hitless for the first time this season – ending his season-opening hitting streak at 24 games. During his streak, Vargas hit .404 (36-for-94), with six doubles, two triples, six home runs and 21 RBI. (Side note: Vargas also hit safely in his last three games of 2025).

We visited Vargas’ history in the March/April Wrap, but here’s a recap.  A true journeyman, utility player, in his first nine MLB seasons (2017-25) Vargas: 1) played for the Diamondbacks, Nationals, Cubs, Twins and Pirates; 2) appeared in 174 games at 3B, 145 at 2B, 48 at SS, 29 in LF, five on the mound and two in RF – plus 104 games as a pinch-hitter, 14 as a pinch-runner and seven as a DH. In 2021 alone, he took the field for the Cubs, Pirates and Diamondbacks.

In those first nine MLB seasons, he appeared in an average of 51 MLB games per season, never reaching 100 games.  (In seven of those nine, he also spent time in the minors). Over those nine seasons, Vargas hit .249-20-145 over 458 games.  Side Note:  Vargas also has a dozen seasons in the Venezuelan Winter League on his baseball resume.  And, true to his versatile history, this season, during his 24-game opening hitting streak, he  appeared at 1B, 2B, 3B, SS,  LF and DH.

Vargas ended May with a .295-7-37 line on the season.  l(Oh, for those who like to know such things, the longest season-opening hitting streak belongs to the Tigers’ Ron LeFlore at 30 (1976).

Nothing Beat A Leisurely Walk In the Park

Also, on May 2, the Athletics’ 1B Nick Kurtz did not draw a walk – ending a streak of 20 consecutive games with a free pass (dating back to April 1) . Kurtz did  go two-for-five ion the game (an A’s 14-6 loss to the Guardians).  Kurtz’ line during the walk streak was: (17-for-69) .246-5-13, with 25 walks, 26 strikeouts and a .447 on-base percentage.

Rookie Rules

On July 25, 2025, Nick Kurtz became the first rookie and youngest player ever (22 years-135 days) to hit four home runs in an MLB game.  In the contest, a 15-3 Athletics’ win at Houston, Kurtz went six-for-six, with four home runs, a double, a single, six runs scored and eight RBI. Note: He also tied the MLB record for total bases in a game at 19 (also accomplished by the Dodgers’ Shawn Green on May 23, 2002).

Ramirez Rolls A 300

On May  2, Guardian’s 3B Jose Ramirez swiped third base in the fifth inning of a Cleveland 14-6 win over the Athletics (right after hitting a two-run double to give the Guardians a 4-3 lead). The steal was the 300^th of Ramirez’ 14-season MLB career (all with the Indians/Guardians) – and, at the time, he was also just nine homers shy of 300 … which, when he gets there, will make him just the ninth MLB player to reach 300-300. He is also now second on the Guardians’ franchise stolen base list, trailing only Kenny Lofton’s 452. (Side note: At the time of the 300^th swipe, Ramirez was 13-for-13 in steal attempts  this season.) Ramirez ended May with eight homers on the season and 293 for his career – and a league-leading 20 steals (307 for his career).

Fireworks During The Game, Not After

On May 2, the Pirates toppled the Reds 17-7 (thankfully in Pittsburgh). By the end of the fourth inning:

• the score was 15-3;
• the Pirates had collected 10 hits and 10 walks;
• every Pirate in the starting lineup had at least one RBI.

Ultimately, the Pirate plated 17 runs on 19 hits and 11 walks and, surprisingly (in today’s game) not a single home run.

In the fourth inning, after Pirates’ CF Oneil Cruz struck out to open the frame, Reds’ pitchers walked seven consecutive batters – enabling the Pirates to plate five runs in the inning, without single base hit. In fact, without a ball leaving the infield (the seven walks were followed by two groundouts).  The Pirates were just the third team to issue seven consecutive walks in an inning (August 25, 1909, White Sox & May 25, 1983 Braves).

Ouch! But Worth It!

On May 6, Angels’ DH Jorge Soler had an unusual day at the plate in the Angels’ 8-4 victory over the White Sox in Anaheim. Soler’s perfect day “at bat” consisted of a single, two walks and a hit-by-pitch in four plate appearances. It was the HBP that grabbed The Roundtable’s attention.   It was one of three HBP in the game and they all came with the bases loaded. (Elias Sports Bureau reported it was the first time in at least 70 years that an MLB game featured three bases-loaded plunkings).

Soler’s HBP was the first of the game.   It came in the fourth inning The Angels were up 5-1, there were two outs,  and the Halos had loaded the bases on a single and two walks off starter Noah Schultz. Osvaldo Bido came on in relief of Schultz and plunked Soler on a 1-1 pitch, forcing in a run and leaving the sacks full.  On the very next pitch, Bido hit Angels’  RF Jo Adell forcing in another run.  Then Osvaldo Bido retired 3B Oswald Peraza (a battle of the Ozzies) on an 0-1 grounder to first.

The score stayed at 7-1 until the seventh inning, when the Angels loaded the bases on a single and a pair of walks (sandwiched around a flyout and a bunt ground out) off Brent Suter. Drew Pomeranz came on in relief (and like the White Sox’ Bido before him) proceeded (on a 1-2 pitch)  to hit the first batter he faced (LF Sam Antonacci) forcing in a run. He then struck out slugging 1B Munetaka Murakami to end the frame.

Mason Miller Brings It

Let’s face it, Padres’ reliever Mason Miller has some nasty “stuff.”  At the end of May, he led the NL  with 17 saves, had a 0.72 ERA and had fanned 49 batters in 25 innings. One of the highlights of his month came in a nerve-wracking frame on May 9, when he became the first pitcher to fan four batters in an inning in 2026. (It’s not that rare an event, Baseball-Almanac.com lists 108 instances in which a pitcher fanned four batters in an inning – but Miller made it especially interesting by loading the bases in the process.)  It happened in the ninth inning of a Padres’ 4-2 win over the Cardinals in St. Louis. Miller was brought in to start the inning and protect the two-run lead.  It when like this:

• Number-five hitter 3B Nolan Gorman – Five-pitch walk;
• SS Masyn Winn – Strike out on a 3-2 pitch;
• CF Nathan Church – Five-pitch walk;
• LF Thomas Saggese – Strike out on three pitches;
• C Yohei Pozo – Fans on an 0-2 wild pitch, reaches first base, Church goes to second, Gorman to third;
• 2B JJ Wetherholt – Fans on a 1-2 pitch.

I do love coincidences and, coincidentally, the last Padres’ pitcher to fan four batters in an inning was in the dugout –  current Padres manager Craig Stammen (in 2021).

A Maddux … It Can Still Happen

Okay, given today’s game, pitching a “Maddux” – a complete game shutout of 100 or fewer pitches – is a rarity. On  May 12, in a Twins 3-0 win over the Marlins – Minnesota’s’ Bailey Ober did just that. Ober needed just 89 pitches to shut down and shut out the Marlins over nine innings (two hits, no walks, seven strikeouts).  For more on Ober’s Maddux and Madduxes in general, click here.

MLB Debut … A Walk In The Park, And Then Some

On May 12, Mets’ 21-year-old CF A.J. Ewing made his MLB debut in New York (versus the Tigers), batting in the eight-hole.  His first game in the majors went like this:

• Second Inning – Battled for a seven-pitch walk;
• Fourth Inning – Fly out;
• Sixth Inning – Six-pitch walk, stolen base, later scored;
• Seventh Inning – RBI triple, later scored;
• Eighth Inning – RBI single.

Why a highlight?  In the spirit of #InBaseballWeCountEverything, Anthony DiComo reported – in  an MLB.com article – that Ewing is the only player in the Modern Era to record three walks, a triple, a stolen base and multiple RBI in his MLB debut. Ewing had hit .339-2-11, with 17 steals in 30 2026 minor-league games (AA & AAA) before his call up. In four minor-league seasons, he hit .290-15-118, with 101 steals in 251 games. (He was  drafted, right out of high school, in the fourth round of the 2023 MLB Draft). At the end of May, his MLB line was .238-1-6.

Seeing Double Is Lucky On The 13th

On May 13, Rockies’ LF Jake McCarthy completed one of those “you-never-know-what-you’ll- see-at-a-ballgame” plays. In the bottom of the first frame of a Rockies’ 10-4 win over the Pirates, the leftfielder turned an unassisted double play.  Ikea would have been proud of his “put-it-together-yourself” initiative.

It started with Pirates’ leadoff hitter and CF Oneil Cruz on second with one out and  Pittsburgh LF Bryan Reynolds at the plate.  Reynolds lined a first-pitch changeup from Jose Quintana to shallow left-center, which spurred a lot of movement. McCarthy was coming in fast toward the infield to make the catch, Cruz was running toward third on the pitch. As McCarthy made the catch, he saw Cruz would have no chance to beat him to second base, so McCarthy “cruised” into the infield and stepped on the keystone bag for the force out and seven-unassisted twin killing.

Finally, The Light At The End Of The Tunnel Game

On May 15th, the Diamondbacks’ 37-year-old righty Merrill Kelly drew the unenviable assignment of starting against the Rockies in hitter-friendly Coors Field. Not only that, hitters in general had not been kind to Kelly in this, his  MLB season.  His 2026 record going into the game was 2-3, 7.62. At this point, he had made 177 MLB starts (over 7+ MLB seasons) without recording a complete game. The stars did not seem aligned in his favor.

Kelly, however,  came through with a nine-inning gem.  A complete game, four-hit, 9-1 win. Per Elias Sport Bureau, this made Kelly the second-oldest pitcher to twirl his first MLB complete game.

For those who like to know such things, the oldest was the Senators’ Connie Marrero, who threw his first complete game (May 21, 1950) at age 39. Curveballer Marrero, notably was in his first MLB season (he had been a star in Cuba) and was making just his second MLB start when he went the distance in a 6-2 win over the Tigers. Marrero pitched in five MLB seasons, going 39-40, 3.67 with 51 complete games in 94 starts (118 total appearances).

Shutouts, Always A Highlight These Days

On May 16, Phillies southpaw Cristopher Sanchez picked up his fifth win of the season (5-2, 1.82), as the Phils topped the Pirates 6-0 in Pittsburgh.  It makes the highlights because it was also his first complete game of the season – and a shutout.  (At the end of May, there were only four complete-game shutouts in MLB this season).  Sanchez gave up six hits, while walking none and fanning 13.

Ghost Runner.  We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Ghost Runner, (For Blazing Saddles fans.)

On May 18, the Mets and Nationals went into the twelfth-inning (in Washington D.C.) tied at 6-6. The Mets, of course, started the top of the twelfth with a runner placed at second base. That proved to be an unnecessary move, as the Mets went on to score ten runs in the inning  (on their way to a 16-7 win).   It all started innocently enough, with Mets’  LF Tyrone Taylor “placed” at second base and C Hayden Senger sacrificing him to third.  What followed was: single; single; intentional walk; bunt single; single; single; pitching change (names withheld to protect the innocent); single; flyout; single; double; double; foul out. Note: Nine Mets, players scored in the frame.

For those who like to know such things:  The most runs scored in an extra-frame is 12, by the Texas Rangers in the 15^th-inning of a July 3, 1983 win over the Athletics (in Oakland).  In that one (there, of course, was no placed runner to start the frame), the Rangers collected  five singles, three doubles and two walks (and were aided by an Athletics’ error and wild pitch). As in the Mets’ recent ten-run twelfth, those runs scored without the benefit of a home run.

Ouch! What A Turn Around

On May 18, Athletic righthander J.T. Ginn, making his 30^th MLB start (42^nd appearance) was rolling along – seemingly headed for his first complete game, first shutout – AND a no-hitter. Going into the bottom of the ninth, he held a 1-0  lead over the hometown Angels.  He had thrown 99 pitchers (62 strikes) and had allowed just two base runners (walk, hit by pitch).  Ginn had fanned ten and gone to a three-ball count on only two batters.  Wow!

In the ninth inning, things went south.  Angel’s second baseman Adam Frazier (batting in the nine-hole) singled on an 0-2 pitch leading off the inning and was replaced by pinch runner Jose Siri (no relation to Apple’s Seri).  SS Zach Neto was up next and hit an 2-0 pitch beyond the centerfield wall for a 2-0 walk-off Angels’ win. So, for Ginn – a complete game, but no no-no and a loss.

Gotta Love Those Baseball Nicknames

On May 19, Jhostynxon  Garcia, acquired by the Pirates (from the Red Sox) in a December trade, made his Pirates debut, starting in RF and batting sixth as the Buccos took on the Cardinals in St. Louis.  (Garcia , a top-100 prospect, went one-for-seven in an August 2025 call up – five games – with the Red Sox).

Garcia makes the highlights because of his nickname “Password” – based on how his first name mirrors those computer-generated random passwords. Takes me back to the Blue Jays’ Marc Rzepczynski, whose last name earned him the nickname “Scrabble.”  It also gives me a chance to direct you – click here – to a past Roundtable post detailing my All- Nickname(best and worst) MLB teams.

Grand Slam … But You have To Run For it

On May 19, as the Nationals topped the Mets 9-6, Nationals’ RF and leadoff hitter James Wood gave the hometown crowd a thrill with a second-inning Grand Slam (his first career MLB GS).  Neither Wood nor the crowd, however, get to savor a trot around the bases.  Wood toured the “three bags and a plate” in just 15.2 seconds.  Yep, that first Grand Slam was an inside-the-parker. It came on the first pitch (a sweeper) of Wood’s second at bat of the game (he had a single in the first inning) against Mets’ starter Noah McLean (the Nat’s trailed 4-0 at the time). Woods hit the ball to deep left center, with Mets’ LF Nick Morabito and CF Tyrone Taylor  intent on running  it down.  The ball bounced off Morabito’s glove and rolled into center, and he slammed into the LF wall and fell to the warning track. Long story short, as Morabito tracked the ball down, Wood toured the bases in those 15.2 seconds and slid head first into home, with his first (well-earned) MLB Grand Slam.

A Shohei Highlight … And, then, A Repeat

On May 20, Shohei Ohtani once again showed why he is “The Show.”  Batting leadoff (DH) and pitching that night, he opened the game in San Diego by belting the first pitch (a four-seam fastball) from Padres’ starter Randy Vazquez, who came into the game 5-1, 2.58 on the season) for his eighth home run and 26^th RBI of 2026. He then went on to pitch five innings of no-run, three-hit ball, earning his fourth win and lowering  his season earned run average to 0.73.  The Dodgers prevailed 4-0. In the spirit of  #InBaseballWeCountEverything, it was the seventh time Ohtani had recorded a scoreless start and gone yard in the same MLB game, setting a new Modern Era record for that combination. (He had been tied with Bob Gibson at six.)  In same vein, even more of a unicorn – per an MLB.com article by Sonja Chen – it was the first regular-season, game-opening leadoff home run by a pitcher in MLB  history.

On May 27, apparently to show that May 20 leadoff home run as a starting pitcher was a no fluke, Ohtani did it again – this time in Colorado.   He opened the top of the first by striking out Rockies’ leadoff hitter, CF Jake McCarthy, as part of a 1-2-3 inning. Then, leading off for the Dodgers in the bottom of the first, he homered to CF on a 1-1 pitch from Tomoyuki Sugano.   It was Ohtani’s ninth homer of the 2026 season. Ohtani did pretty well on the mound, too, picking up his fifth victory (one loss) with six innings of no-hit ball (four walks, seven strikeouts).

There has been one post-season instance of a pitcher going deep while leading off a game for his team.  Whose name goes on that one? You guessed it. Leading off the bottom of the first in Game Four of 2025’s National League Championship Series, Ohtani smacked a 3-2 pitch from the Brewers’ Jose Quintana for a homer to deep right. And, to add a cherry to the top of that sundae: Ohtani went three-for-three, with three homers in the 5-3 Dodgers’ win – and also pitched six shutout innings. Sho-time indeed.

Feel Good Story Of The Month

How can you not love this game?  Bryan Torres surely does. On May 23, Torres made his MLB debut with the Cardinals … in his 11th pro season and 914th game as a professional ballplayer. Torres, signed out of Puerto Rico, started his professional career in 1915 (as a 17-year-old) with the Brewers-affiliated squad in the Dominican Summer league.  His journey to the majors included time in three different farm systems (Brewers, Cardinals and Giants), the Puerto Rican and Dominican Winter Leagues,  as well as in the independent American Association.  He donned the uniforms of the Pioneer League Helena Brewers and Rocky Mountain Vibes;  Arizona League Brewers; Puerto Rican Winter League Gigantes de Carolina and Criollos de Caguas; Northern League Richmond Flying Squirrels; American Association Milwaukee Milkmen; the Puerto Rican team in the Caribbean Series; Texas League Springfield Cardinals; International League Memphis Red Birds; Dominican Winter League Toro del Este; and the Puerto Rican team in the  World Baseball Classic.

When he was called up to the Redbirds, he was hitting .336-2-16 after 36 games at Triple-A Memphis.

Torres not only made his debut that day, he played in two games  … a split doubleheader against the Reds in Cincinnati. And, it proved an MLB debut day worth the wait.  In Game One, seven proved a lucky number for Torres.  He started in LF (seven on your scorecard), batting seventh. He got his first plate appearance in the third inning and worked a six-pitch walk (first MLB walk, first MLB time on base). In the fourth  inning,  he logged his first MLB at bat and collected his first MLB hit (a single to right) and later scored his first MLB run as Ivan Herrera hit into a ground ball double play.  More firsts were yet to come. After grounding out in the sixth and flying  out in the seventh, Torres collected his first MLB home run and first MLB RBIs in the ninth (a two-run shot.) Not a bad first MLB game: two-for-four, one run scored, two RBI, a home run – and his Cardinals won 8-1. Oh, and it was another first – his first MLB day game.

About three-and-a half hours later, another first for Torres … his first MLB night game. He got another  start in LF, batting seventh. In this one, he went one-for-four with a walk (and his first MLB strikeout). The Cardinals lost that one 7-6. Torres closed out May with  a  .273-1-3 line.

On May 23 … A Bit Of Rare Air

Royals’ righty Stephen Kolek pitched his second career MLB complete game (in 23 starts/65 appearances over three seasons). It was also his second MLB shutout. Kolek gave up just four hits and one walk and fanned only two batters (that is also a bit rare for a complete game these days) in the 5-0 win over the Mariners.  The outing ran Kolek’s 2026 record to 3-0, 2.77 in four starts.

Kolek’s gem was  one of seven MLB complete games and four single-pitcher shutouts so far this  season.  (In 2025, there were a total of 13 complete-game shutouts and Kolek tied for the MLB lead with one.)  By comparison, in 1968, the Cardinal’s Bob Gibson had 13 shutouts on his own, MLB saw 20 players toss five or more shutouts and 99 pitchers tossed at least one shutout. Even in 1969 – after MLB shrank the strike zone in response to “The Year of the Pitcher” (1968),  it took nine shutouts to lead MLB (Denny McLain),  eight pitchers fashioned at least five whitewashings and 105 pitchers threw at least one shutout. Oh, how times have changed.

Run, Corbin Run

On May 24, as the Diamondbacks topped the Rockies 9-1 in Arizona, D-backs’ RF Corbin Carroll had a good day – four-for-four, with a run scored, two RBI and two triples. It was his fifth multiple-triple game in four-plus MLB season.  Note: In his first three full MLB seasons (2023-25), Carroll has led the  NL in triples (with 10, 14 and 17, respectively) – and he currently leads the league with eight 2026 three-baggers. Notably, Corbin tied for the MLB lead in triples in 2024 and stood alone atop MLB in 2025. If Carroll leads MLB in triples again this year, he would be the first player to lead MLB in three-baggers in three consecutive seasons and also the first player to lead the NL in triples in four consecutive seasons (like Carroll, the Cardinals’ Garry Templeton led the NL in triples three straight seasons … 1977-79).   Note: The White Sox’ Lance Johnson holds the MLB record for the most consecutive seasons leading his league (as opposed to MLB overall) in triples at four (1991-94).  Sam Crawford holds the record for leading his league in triples over a career at six (over 19 seasons), as well as the MLB career record for triples at 309. Ty Cobb has the record for the most career multi-triple games at 17 (over 24 seasons). Carroll has some targets (near- and long-term) to shoot for.

A No-No … And Santa Delivers

On May 25, Astros’ 23-year-old righty Alimber Santa made his MLB debut in what would normally be a no-stress situation. After all, his Astros were up 9-0 as Santa took the mound to open the eighth.  There was a catch, however, the Astros’ Tatsuya Imai (six innings) and Steven Okert (one inning) had combined to hold the Rangers hitless through seven (five walks, three strikeouts). So, Santa was asked to deliver not only a hold, but also to preserve a shutout and a no-hitter. He was up to the task, pitching two 1-2-3 innings (three groundouts, two lineouts, one strikeout) to complete the first no-hitter of 2026. Coincidently, the last no hitter (before May 25) came on September 3, 2024 and like this on , it was a three-pitcher no-no, started by a Japanese-born pitcher (Shota Imanaga).

For those who like to know such things:  Of MLB’s 327 recorded no-hitters (regular and post-season, per MLB.com and Baseball-Almanac.com, only 22 were combined no-hitters – and 14 of those have occurred post-2000 (since 2003 to be exact).

The Miz

Jacob Misiorowski (The Miz) just keeps bringing the heat (and making these highlights).  On May 25, in his start against the Cardinals, the Brewers’ 243-year-old righthander fanned 12 batters over seven innings – giving up just two hits, one walk and one run – in a 5-1 Brewers’ win.  AND, he threw 57 of his 96 pitches at 100 mph+. That’s the most triple-digit pitches in a game since pitch tracking began in 2008. In the process, he also became the first MLB pitcher to reach 100 strikeouts this season (doing it in 64 innings).

Kurtz Got It On (a lot)!

May 26 was a red-letter day for A’s 1B Nick Kurtz. Red, of course, signals “stop” and May 26 marked the day Mariners’ pitchers stopped Kurtz’ remarkable 48-game streak of getting on base. As the Athletics lost to the Mariners 4-1,  Kurtz went zero-for-four with three strikeouts. It was the first time opponents kept him off the base paths for an entire game since March 31.  In the 48-game on-base streak, Kurtz went  53-for-172 (.304), with eight homers and 37 RBI.  He also drew 48 walks over the 48 games (.464 on-base percentage) and, within the on-base streak, he had a 20-game streak in which he drew at least one walk in every game (April 19 through  May 1).

For those who like to know such things, the record for the most consecutive MLB games reaching base is held by Ted Williams (84 games … July 1 through September 27, 1949).    Williams went 112-for-302 in his streak (.371), with 24 home runs and 80 RBI (as well as 92 walks for a .518 OBP). The record for consecutive games with a walk is 22 (Ray Cullenbine, Tigers … walks were first tracked in the AL in 1913 and the NL in 1910).

Recovering From An Unfortunate Start
White Sox’ 25-year-old righty David Sandlin made his MLB debut against the Twins on  May 27 (in Chicago). He had a bit of a rough start, giving up a home run to Twins’  leadoff hitter Byron Buxton on just his second MLB pitch (the first was a ball). He settled in nicely after that, retiring the next 18 batters he faced (before being relieved to open the seventh). He got the win and gave up just the one hit and run, while fanning four and walking none.  Sandlin was an 11^th round pick in the 2022 Draft (out of the University of Oklahoma.)

A Diversion

Bob Gibson and Bert Blyleven both gave up a home run to the first MLB batters they ever faced. (The only two Hall of Famers to do do.)

 They Call Them The Streaks

This season, the Cubs have already run off two 10-game winning streaks (April 14—24 & April 28-May 8), as well as a ten-game losing streak (May 16-May 26). #InBaseballWeCountEverything:  The Elias Sports Bureau reported that the 2017 Dodgers are the only other team in AL/NL history to have two double-digit winning streaks and a double-digit losing streak in the same season.

The Cubs also had a streak of 15 consecutive wins at Wrigley Field. The home winning streak began on April 17 and ended  with a Wrigley Field loss to the Brewers on May 18. Notably, the Cubs closed out May with a still active six-game home losing streak.

The Gate To Home Plate Is Locked

On May 27, Phillies’ southpaw Cristopher Sanchez (Don’t look it up, it’s Cristopher without an H) picked up his sixth win of the season (6-2, 1.47) – and in doing so supplanted one of the most well-known names in Phillies’ and MLB history. Sanchez threw seven scoreless innings (six hits, no walks, nine strikeouts) as the Phils topped the Padres 3-0 in San Diego.  Why a highlight?  The last time Sanchez gave up a run was in the first inning of a game on April 30. Since then, he has crafted 44 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings, now the longest (and still active) scoreless streak in Phillies’ history. Who did Sanchez supplant in the Phillies’ record book? The 41-inning streak tossed by Hall of Famer Grover Cleveland Alexander in his 1911 rookie season. Sanchez now holds MLB’s seventh-longest (Live Ball Era) scoreless streak.  The ultimate target?  Orel Hershiser’s 59 consecutive scoreless frames in 1988.

The New M&M Boys

During the month of May the White Sox bashed an MLB-leading 42 home runs, with 1B Munetaka Murakami (8), SS Colson Montgomery (7) and 3B Miguel Vargas (7) leading the way. Notably Murakami and Montgomery  homed in the same game twice during the month, bring the total games in which they both homered to eight on the season.  That put them on a pace to homer together in in 22 games this season.  For a point of reference, in 1961, the Bronx Bombers M&M boys (Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle) set the record for players homering in the same game at 14.

Side note: Murakami suffered a hamstring injury on May 29. He is expected to miss four-to-six weeks, so the new M&M boys  may see their chances of topping the 1961 M&M boys’ record slip away.  

The Drought Ends

It finally happened: Fifty-six games and 207 at bats into the 2026 MLB season,   Fernando Tatis, Jr. (who averaged a home run every 4.4 games and every 17.1 at bats from his debut season of  2019 through 2025) hit his first dinger of 2026.   It came on May 30, the fifth inning of his Padres’ 9-4 loss to that Nationals.  It was a 451-foot blast toi left-center off Foster Griffin – on a 1-0 pitch after Tatis had faked a bunt on the first pitch.

It Just Keeps On Happening

Those who make their way through this monthly highlight know that The Roundtable seems to be featuring a lot of players who go deep on their Bobblehead Day/Night.  Well, it happened again.  On May 30, on a day when the White Sox were holding a “Shared Bobblehead Giveaway” featuring catchers Edgar Quero and Kyle Teel (and Quero’s wife Maria was tossing out the first pitch), Quero (catcher, not wife) hit a solo homer in the seventh inning of a 7-1 win over the Tigers. It was just his second homer of the 2026 season.

(Number) One For Two

On May 30, the Mets’ battery of P Christian Scott and C Hayden Singer  notched a pair of firsts. Scott picked up his first MLB win (tossing five innings of one run ball, fanning eight) and Senger popped his first MLB home run in the seventh inning.  It was Scott’s 16th MLB appearance (all starts) and Senger’s 39^th MLB game.  Oh, the Mets won 6-1.

Isn’t Thirteen, Just 31 Backwards?

Threes were good to the Yankees as May came to a close. In inning number three, on May 31, in a game that would eventually take three hours-and-one minute, the Yankees poured across 13 runs before the opposing A’s managed to get out number-three.  In addition, the first out wasn’t recorded until the 13^th batter in the inning came to the plate. In fact, the Yankees had put across ten runs before the first out in the inning. The Yankees sent 18 batters to the plate and collected 11 hits  – eight singles, two doubles and one triple.  The Bronx Bombers also drew four walks and – adding insult to injury –  stole four bases in the inning. DH Ben Rice was the “star” of the inning, with a two-run double and a two-run triple in two at bats.

Weirdly, it was the only inning in which the Yankees scored in the 13-8 win. In fact, it was the only inning in which they recorded a base hit. Theo DeRosa, in an MLB.com report, indicated it is the most runs an MLB team has ever scored in a game in which all their runs came in the same inning.

Ronald Acuna, Jr. Ends May En Fuego

Braves’ RF Ronald Acuna, Jr. came came into the final four games of May hitting .236, with just two home runs and 12 RBI on the season (42 games played). Then, from May 28 through May 31, in just four games, he went  six-for-thirteen, with five home runs, nine RBI, five runs scored,  seven walks and four stolen bases.

 

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